It is no secret that I am rather fond of riesling, so as I sat down to this collection with Messrs Collins and McLaren I was certainly looking forward to what lay ahead.
My only conundrum was in trying to group the wines fairly into brackets of approximately similar dryness/sweetness before they were covered and mixed to taste blind. The wines proved to be drier overall than anticipated, that hint of ``off dryness'' making them an easy each-way bet as an aperitif or with food.
Price: $22
Rating: Excellent to outstanding
Honey, flowers and a whisper of corruption on the delightful nose. Rich and powerful with honey and musky botrytis notes before a charge of acidity races in masking the sweetness. Chewy and textural mid-palate as the flavour intensity quietly builds to a long, flavoursome finish.
A zesty counterpoint to the fruit sweetness that really works a treat.
Price: $30
Rating: Excellent
Smoky notes, honey and citrus blossom lead the rather delightful nose. Powerful textural entry offering lemon, honey and musk, mandarin later, with a fresh, zesty undercurrent. The perception is of sweetness, yet it finishes relatively dry. This dances in the mouth between the fruit sweetness and zesty crispness.
Concentration here and a long finish.
Price: $25
Rating: Excellent
The nose a little shy with hints of apple, flowers and bush honey. The palate somewhat tight at first with tightly defined flavours of honey, musk and apple, crisp acidity and good balance. This moves into another gear with aeration, opening up enormously and building in complexity, interest and length.
Quite delicious.
Price: $28
Rating: Excellent
Lemon and lime citrus notes with a backdrop of clover honey. Sweetly fruited on entry with honeyed elements and a touch of cordial, though quite fine and finishing relatively dry. Crisp and neatly balanced with a lipsmacking juiciness that leaves you salivating.
Good concentration here with a long and delicious close.
Price: $23
Rating: Very good to excellent
Fruit jubes and white flowers lend a sweetly floral aspect. Appealingly creamy entry with citrus and honey at first, apple to follow, remaining fresh and vibrant. Crunchy and crisp acidity keeps you salivating, reminding you of its youthfulness.
Some pithy phenolics bring in chewiness on the close.
Price: $27
Rating: Excellent to outstanding
Honey, musk, marmalade and lemon curd. A lovely powerful nose with botrytis notes that suggest a dessert style. Rich, dense and oily on the front palate with flavours of honey and citrus and a whisper of corruption. A fine line of acidity gives this lovely freshness, finishing drier than earlier suggestions.
Sumptuous.
